Keylogger Found On HP Laptops

HP has released an emergency patch for its laptops after a researcher discovered there was a keylogger installed. The problem was discovered by Michael Myng who found the code in the Synaptics Touchpad SynTP.sys. The driver is found in nearly all HP laptops.

It should be noted that the code is disabled by default though it could be activated through changing registry information. This could make the driver a target for malware programs. Upon discovering the code, Myng contacted the company who confirmed that the keylogger did exist and released an update to remove it. The keylogger itself was actually intended as a debug trace.

A full list of the affected laptops can be found on HP’s website. The company also said that no customer data was compromised as a result of this keylogger.

“A potential security vulnerability has been identified with certain versions of Synaptics touchpad drivers that impacts all Synaptics OEM partners,” the company’s site warns. “A party would need administrative privileges in order to take advantage of the vulnerability. Neither Synaptics nor HP has access to customer data as a result of this issue.”

This isn’t the first time that HP has had an issue with keyloggers. In May, it was reported that a keylogger had been hidden in the Conexant HD audio drivers since at least Christmas of 2015. The company said that the code had accidentally been added to the software.

Eric is an avid tech junkie, gamer, and comic fan. When he's not working on his PC, you'll find him at your local comic book shop.